The student visa is the type of Visa that is issued to intending students of foreign nationalities, which allows them to live in that country temporarily for the period allocated for their study. Visa is issued to students who are 16 years old and above. However, the student visa may or may not allocate benefits like that or drive uber for a part-time or full-time job . let’s see more about “Can You Drive Uber on a Student Visa?”
The question is, “Is it legal to drive Uber as a student?”
In the United States, the Student Visa, also known as the “F1 visa,” does not come with a work permit unless the international student gets a Social Security Number (SSN) and Work Permit. SSN signifies that a person has been authorized to be employed legally in the United States. However, international students do not have automatic access to SSN. Also, it is expected that the jobs of international students should relate to their studies.
Criteria To Own And Drive Uber As A Student
Before one can own or drive Uber as a student, certain requirements should be met.
- You must be at least 21 years old.
- You must possess your proof of residency or Social Security Number.
- You must possess a driver’s license that was issued at least one year before.
- You must possess a driver’s license that was issued at least three years before if you are not up to 23 years old.
- The student’s driver’s license must be issued by the state he or she is working for.
- You must have access to a vehicle with an in-state plate number.
- The vehicle to be used must not be older than ten years and must be in good condition. Also, the vehicle must be a 4-door vehicle.
Student Visa requirements
Prospective students often have questions about the student visa, what it entails, and how one can qualify for a student visa in the United States. Those questions are addressed in this article.
In the USA, three are three categories of student visas;
- F1 Student Visa: The F1 student visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows students from other countries to study academic programs in institutions in the U.S.
- J Exchange Visa: The J1 Visa is a non-immigrant visa for foreign nationals to take part in exchange visitor programs in the U.S.
- M Student Visa: The M1 Visa is also a non-immigrant visa that helps the holder take part in a non-academic institution in the U.S.
Getting a Student Visa
There are steps involved in getting a student visa. The student must meet certain requirements.
- Have a valid international passport, given by the student’s home country
- The student must have been accepted by an institution in the U.S.
- Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee.
- Complete the student visa application process.
- Pay the visa application fee.
- Attend a visa interview.
Possessing a student visa has quite a few benefits like the ability to study a full-time course in a U.S institution and earn a degree, to work on-campus (part-time), the permission to travel within the United States or abroad during the course of studies and so on
Working at Uber- what it is like
However, it should be noted that.
- The work time starts counting once the driver is logged in. One has to be careful not to lose track of time spent working.
- One has to be very careful when calculating the time because the idle time spent waiting for a user may be added to the total amount of time spent working.
- Students can work full-time during the holidays.
- Once the student’s academic course has been completed, and the Visa is still valid, the student can be allowed to work full-time.
- The student has to meet the requirements needed to drive Uber within the United States. These requirements are listed below.
When all is said and done
When you have been issued a student visa, and you have met the needed requirements to own or drive Uber in the United States, there are some tips one can employ to be a good Uber driver.
- Keep the vehicle clean: having a clean vehicle cannot be overemphasized. A little bit of scent in the air, too, would be nice.
- Be conversant with your environment: It would be a plus to have good knowledge of one’s environment. Know the safest routes, the location of public toilets, etc.
- Be a careful driver: As good as it is to be a fast driver. It is even better to be a careful one. Do not drive above the permitted speed limit in the state, and obey the rules. Remember, it is in the hands of your clients to give you a 1-star or 5-star rating.
- Have the right temperature: You don’t want to have your clients sweating buckets or freezing during their ride. The temperature must be just right. You can ask them what they would like if you are uncertain.
- Be sensitive: Even though it can be good to engage your passengers in conversations, it is also necessary to be sensitive to the mood of your clients. This helps to know whether the person would want to talk or would prefer a rather silent ride.
- Be a little extra: As an Uber driver, you should be willing to go the extra mile for your clients to feel comfortable. Maybe a bottle of water, mints, gum, snacks, candy, etc.
Conclusion
With bills to be paid and various expenses to be met, the idea of students having per time jobs is not a strange phenomenon. A popular and flexible job opening that students consider is ‘Uber.’ Uber is one of the leading service providers in cab services, which works by creating a platform for the users to request for and gain access to riders. With the correct student visa and additional requirements updated, you may earn via driving for Uber.
FAQs
- How Much Money Can I Earn From Uber As An International Student?
According to a rough estimation made in April 2022, the average Uber driver can make more than $600 while working for just 20 hours per week. Before calculating how much one can earn from Uber as an international student, it is necessary to find out the conditions on the Visa of the student in the given country.